2d. The seeking sinner, or the discouraged believer, need not feel the last alarm because of the truth and certainty of this doctrine. For" God has never said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain." How could he when this is one of the predestinated means of acquiring salvation? Hear the Great Teacher-the infallible one. Luke 18: 7. "Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" Does not our Lord here inform us that all who call with importunity on his father, out of a pure or sincere heart, for all things that pertain to the life of godliness are His own elect? Why then should the prayerful be chilled with horror? Nay, they should "abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. 1: 10. "Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure." Subjective certainty is, of course, meant; for "The Lord knoweth them that are His." The direction is; prove your effectual calling, or regeneration first; and when this is scripturally settled, by diligent examination

of your temper and conduct compared with. what that standard exhibits as "the fruit of the Spirit," then you ought certainly to conclude that you are "elect of God, holy and beloved." But not till then. Therefore, listen to the command of God. 2 Cor. 13: 5. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" He that is not united to Christ by a living faith has nothing to encourage him in that state; but he who is, has "the faith of God's elect." Tit. 1: 1. Arise, O God, establish the truth and holiness of the Gospel, that thou in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." 16: 30, 31. "Sir, what must I do to be saBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Let any one read these passages, with the context of each, and it will abundantly appear that the apostles preached the duties of faith and repentance as binding on the unrenewed, their immediate and imperative obligations. When we, then, command you in the name of Christ to repent, be converted, believe in Jesus, and do works meet for repentance, we follow the example of the old prophets, the apostles of our Lord, and of Christ himself. (Mark 1: 15.) We have divine direction for so doing, the King of Zion gives us the command. Can any one bring forward a better reason? It does not depend on our option whether to refuse or obey. "Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel."

But while the servants of Christ thus speak in his name, must they remind men of their own inability to comply with such commands, or be utterly silent on the subject? The right solution of this question is of the

last importance. Many teachers in the visible church are very sensitive with regard to this subject. They wish to hear nothing that appertains to it-except it tends to shew that they must close the lip on this point, or be so very cautious with regard to it, that all who hear them may instantly perceive that the preacher thinks it a frivolous matter. Indeed, they seem to think that the mention of absolute dependance on the spirit of God to enable men to repent and believe operates as a damper, that it actually prevents many from being regenerated. We are not going to speculate on this subject, nor employ any "philosophy, and vain deceit," but simply refer to "the word of truth." After the prophet had said, "O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord," he adds, "thus saith the Lord, behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live, &c;" which is explained by the words, "I shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live." Now, here they are reminded that both their political and moral res urrection will be owing wholly to the divine power-to the Spirit of God. And if it was

not improper to remind the Jews of this, neither can it be for us to bring the same to your remembrance. And if our change from sin to holiness be owing to "the exceeding greatness of God's power," (Eph. 1: 22;) surely, sinners should know their helplessness as well as guilt and corruption. They should be plainly told of it. Indeed, without a realizing sense of his own helplessness, who ever came to Christ, saying, "turn me, and I shall be turned, "hold thou me up, and I shall be safe?" That the apostles, our Lord himself, and those that had "the Spirit of Christ," under the Old Testament dispensation, taught unrenewed men their inability to comply with the terms of salvation, can be shown to all who reverence the word of God. First, as to apostolic preaching: Acts 2:39. When Peter had told those who

were pricked in their heart," to "repent and be baptized &c;" did he stop there? No, he continues-" and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." "For the promise," (see 17-21 and Joel 2:) of the spirit-" is unto